This page compares Stanford University and Northwestern University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 53 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 53 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Stanford University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Stanford University is ranked #1 compared to #9 — a gap of 8 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Stanford University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 6.1% compared to Northwestern University's 12.3%.

Stanford University is located in Stanford, California, while Northwestern University is in Evanston, Illinois. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Northwestern University places 64.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 40.2% for the other school. This 24 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Northwestern University offered a median scholarship of $180,000 compared to $165,000, a difference of $15,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.